ice storm...power out?

[nootcakes]

i know i haven't been on here in a while but i need some advice.
we tend to have an ice storm about this time every year and the last two years it has knocked out the power. once for 12 DAYS at my house!
Well it has been predicted to happen tomorrow and they don't know how big it will be or if it is even going to happen. I'm just curious if this has happened to anyone before? i have already made plans for my bp's to go over to my friends place if he has power and i don't i also stocked up on those 12hour hand warmers at the wall mart.
so anyboy got any advice, stories, advice...
Thanks in advance!

[simplechamp]

Is a generator a feasible option for you?

[nootcakes]

i wish it was...
and my friend that had one last ice storm joined the military

[Shrap]

Glad to see other people thinking about this. I wrote up a little article some time ago on this very subject. http://www.sammygreggreptiles.com/er.html

[Bruce Whitehead]

One thing to remember is that a candle in a closet can generate enough heat to keep a person warm... so if it is an emergency and you are losing heat. Bag 'em and find a way to stack, organize, etc.

Bruce

[Slim]

I'm with Bruce on this one. I have several large Rubbermade 50qt bins. My plan is to bag my boys and keep them warm with any means I have avaliable. I do keep heat packs on hand, and once I move out of my apartment and into a house, I'll be getting a small generator.

In addtion to power outages, I live in an area prone to hurricanes. Bagged snakes in a Rubbermade bin is also my "get outta' Dogde" plan if we have to evacuate.

[mcd]

I've had a couple of power outages and what I've done (if it's just a short outage) is wrap the tank in blankets, and put a hot water bottle (wrapped in a dish towel) in the tank.
One word of caution about wrapping the tank in blankets- I did that last week when the power was out and then went to a friend's place for dinner, planning to be gone for a couple of hours.
When I was there I realized that if the power came back on, the blankets would be sitting right on top of the heat lamp, which could be a fire hazard. So, if you're going to wrap the tank, don't forget to unplug the heat lamp (if you use one).

[Muze]

I would definitely suggest some heat packs. RBI has the 40 hour ones for $1-$2 + shipping. Too late for this year, but could be an option for next year.

[ZinniaZ]

I posted this on another thread in the general pythons section right after a big power outtae here in NE last month.

Just saw this thread. We did lose power and we were out for five and a half days. Temps at night were in the single digits. We used heat packs but after two or three days, they couldn't keep the snakes warme enough because the house was so cold. It was 41 in the warmest part of the house. So here is my advice.
1. Go buy a generator of some sort as soon as you can. Now. Before the power goes out. You can buy one that uses a car battery for about a hundred bucks that will power a couple of small things (like snake heaters.)
2. If the power goes out and you find that you are in a desperate situation, as we were, put the snakes insisde your clothing. This is a temporary fix, but I felt that our snakes were going to die by the second evening. They were way too cold even with the heat packs.
3. We constructed several garbage can heaters. This is a desperate last resort, and not very safe. But it kept our snakes alive and we used all kinds of caution. Here is how you do it:
-- use a metal garbage can (about 18 inches tall) and a short pillar candle (less than three inches high). We used two candles actually. Light candles and place in can. Place a cookie sheet with a folded towel on it over the opening of the garbage can. Place your snakes in a tub on the cookie sheet. An adult must sit with this set-up ALL the time. You have to monitor the heat on the bottom of the tub. You have to make sure it doesn't get knocked over and set your house on fire. If the candles are too tall it gets too hot. HOWEVER, despite the dangerousness of the set-up, this was the only way we could keep ours warm enough. They went from 51 degrees inside their tubs to 82. All of them survived. We did lose one leopard gecko. I think the stress killed him. But the garbage can method works. It creates a pocket of heated air and stays warm enough to keep the snakes alive. But be super careful.

[RichardA]

Just put my generator into place an hour or so ago. Just in case.